99-YEAR-OLD WAS GREAT AT RUNNING RACES, CITY JAIL

Memory is a tricky proposition for anyone from the 60-year-old who can’t find her car keys, to the sixth-grader who “forgets” to bring his report card home — well, maybe not for the kid.

In an almost-centenarian, it waxes and wanes: sharp on one thing, then wavering on another and failing on yet another, even when talking about family.

“I have three children — uh, no, yeah, three: a boy and two girls. All still alive.” Grandchildren? “Five or six.” Great-grandchildren? “About 30, I guess.” Do you know them all? “If I see them, I recognize them, but I won’t know all the names.”

McPhie says he looks forward to welcoming the dawn of his 100th birthday next year, “out of curiosity.” He also desires to once again attend his beloved senior track meets.

He says otherwise, but competitive fires, though banked, can be stirred alive. And it’s possible that McPhie has noticed a blank spot on his wall of gold medals. Those other old-timers might have to be satisfied with silver.

Fred Dickey of Cardiff is a novelist and award-winning magazine writer who believes every life is an adventure. He welcomes column ideas and other suggestions; contact him at freddickey@ roadrunner.com